The Why

There is one question that I have been continually asked by my family and friends... WHY??? Why take the drastic measure of weight loss surgery? Why choose such an extreme way to lose weight? Why this irreversible procedure? Why why why are you doing this?

So I'll tell you my many reasons why I have chosen this approach to weight loss. In no particular order...

1. Failed attempts - I have tried, struggled and failed on my own attempts at weight loss since high school - weight watchers, lite n easy, tony ferguson,  years of gym memberships, swimming passes, boot camps, organised sports, cutting out carbs, psychologists, and much more. All attempts worked for a little while then some self sabotaging, negative thoughts take over and I return to binge eating. I need help!

2. My daughter - I have a beautiful baby girl, almost 2 already, who deserves not only a mum who WANTS the best for her child but to have a mother who is alive, able and willing to witness, guide, protect, laugh with, sing with, learn from, rely on, participate in and really be there for her growth into adulthood. I want to be here for everything.

3. Future children - I desperately want more kids. At the moment it is somewhat difficult to get pregnant and will be incredibly risky and difficult to be so. I need to lose weight before I have more children.

4. The permanancy of the surgery, being physically unable to eat the way I do now, is what I need. A constant reminder to eat well and in correct portions.

5. Beat it before it beats me - I want to overcome obesity and break the bad habits before I get any further health problems which will come if I do nothing. I want to fix my current problems and decrease the risks of coronary heart disease, diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure,  cancer,  sleep apnea, abnormal blood fats, gallstones, reproductive problems and more.

6. Quality of life - being able to vacuum and hang out washing without sweating, do my hair before my arms get tired, stop for a few minutes without zonking out, get around easier and going shopping without feeling like I've run a marathon.

7. For me - I want to feel good again! I want to buy clothes because I love them not because they happen to fit. I want to ride a bike again because I can. I want to be able to sit on the floor and play with my daughter without spending the next half hour waiting for the feeling to come back in my legs. I want to drive a car and fit on the seat without my arm overflowing in the centre console and my belly/legs touching the wheel. I want to stand/walk without ankle, knee, hip or back pain. I want to sit on my bed without hearing the springs. I want to put myself first and do whatever it takes to get me back.

I have a huge list of small things also that I'll be ticking off as they happen.

I want to change my life while I still have the chance. This is not the cop out, easy option, lazy way to lose weight. It is going to be incredibly hard and terribly strict. Which is what I want and need. My choice to take control of my mind, body and future. And it is my choice.

I hope those who judge or worry about this decision begin to understand my reasons why.

In the beginning...

Hello and welcome!
My first post is a little off date as I want to briefly share the process so far to this point.

October/November 2013:
I was going to the gym 3-4 times a week for zumba, body pump, pilates and cardio. As much as I wanted the exercise to be enough to shed my many extra kilos I knew it wouldn't be enough.  I privately began revisiting my research for weight loss surgery, something I often did.

Something about this time was different. I was the biggest I had ever been, completely exhausted and totally depressed. Knowing my weight was stopping us from having another baby, and from many other wifely and motherly everyday tasks that became harder and harder to perform.

I decided that if I really wanted to change my life, I was going to have to change my life!

So the extensive research continued and I was soon determined that the sleeve gastrectomy was the procedure I needed to help me achieve my goals. Anyone who knows me knows when I'm determined about something there's no stopping me!

Along with my research on everything about the sleeve and the results people achieved, I joined Facebook groups for weight loss surgeries, read blogs and watched video diaries on YouTube and began asking questions. Most of my questions were answered well, but there wasn't much information relating to Australian surgeons, clinics, hospitals, insurance or products.  So I continued my search for a reputable surgeon and program on my own.

I found OClinic through the long searches and phone calls and am extremely happy with my choice for Dr Craig Taylor to be my surgeon.

There was a bit of a process to get to now.... first appointment (which I waited 6 weeks for) was in early December.  I met with a clinic doctor to review my details. I am 154cm tall and at that appointment weighed 132kg. This put my BMI at 56. Healthy BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9. Which put my overall excess weight to 72-87 kg.  Wow!

We discussed realistic goals and as a rule the clinic sets 60% excess weight loss as a success.  If I lost 45 kg (which would put me at 87kg) then success!  If I chose to lose more than that, even better. I made my overall goal to get to 70kg which I will revisit when I am close.

I was excited but overwhelmed. What a lot of weight!   One step at a time.
I had blood work done, a cardiologist check my heart, GP appointments, applied to have some of my super released early to pay for the surgery, calls to my health insurance to ensure all was covered, the long anxious wait for approval from Centrelink, claim to my super fund for the money to be released, calls to OClinic to try and get a surgery date booked (which only happens after total fee is paid).  It took almost 8 weeks from first appointment to do all medical tests and being able to pay and I GOT MY DATE!  Was a happy happy moment.  Now that date is 7 weeks away!  So excited so much to prepare!

I have appointments coming up with surgeon, psychologist and dietician and can not wait!

So that's a pretty quick overview of process up to now, 9 February 2014.  Any questions regarding the process more specifically just ask. I will be more thorough in future posts.

Thanks for your interest,  support or concern. Thanks for joining me on my journey!

=)